Jeff Baughman hired as new Central volleyball coach

July 30th, 2014by Kelley Smiddie in Sports - Preps

Jeff Baughman was recently hired as volleyball coach at Central High School.

Baughman, who will be in his second year teaching at adjacent Brown Middle School, said he has played competitive volleyball for more than 10 years and most of his coaching experience in the sport came when he lived in Florida. He said he also spent three years officiating volleyball in Florida and two officiating in Tennessee.

Baughman is succeeding Robin Moore, who coached the Lady Purple Pounders for one season and guided them to the District 6-AA tournament championship.

"We interviewed several candidates," Central principal Finley King said. "We were looking for somebody who was a teacher in Hamilton County. I just don't like having non-faculty coaches. I like having somebody already on staff.

"It's always a win-win situation when you get your feeder school involved."

Baughman will be entering his ninth season as a teacher and coach in the Hamilton County system.

"It's been a whirlwind two weeks," Baughman said. "I spent some time at volleyball camp, studying the team. Basically, I've just been updating myself with drills. Volleyball has made a lot of progressions in the last few years."

Baughman said his goals for the team this season include trying to repeat as district champion, eclipse the 28 victories of 2013 and advance to the state tournament.

"We're not that school nobody fears playing," Baughman said. "You've got to get ready to play when you play Central. Volleyball is a passion for me, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm just excited to get the season started."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.